hicks



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. P. HICKS. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.-

No. 465,761. Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

/NVENTO/?: ,Z'fiownf K5616. BY mu 5% ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EIHVIN P. HICKS, OF MOALESTER, INDIAN 'lERRl'lORY.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,761, dated December 22, 1891.

Application filed beptembe 5, 1891. fierial No. 404,900. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN P. HICKS, residing at McAlester, in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, have invented a new and useful Musical instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a combined harmonica and zither or harp like instrument, producing what might be termed a pneumatic zither, it being an instrument upon which any harmonica-player can perform, the tones, however, being produced by strings struck and vibrated by hammers, in stead of reeds operated by air-pressu re, as in the case of a harmonica.

. My invention consists in providing an instrument the body or main portion being constructed similar to a zither or harp,the playing portion being arranged similarly to a harmonica, the air-tubes of which are arranged to operate by the exhalation and inhalation of air by the performer, whereby to operate hammer devices arranged to strike the strings of the zither in a manner similar to the hammers of a piano.

My invention further consists in certain details of mechanism, hereinafter fully described in the annexed specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of my improved musical instrument. Fig. 2 is a perspective front view of the same with the air-flue chamber shown detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section; and Fig. i is a detail cross-section on the line i i, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the main or body portion A is of a zither shape, on which are strung any desired number of strings B B, twenty being shown, which strings are secured at one end to a transverse rod 0, the ends of which are bent down at c and fit the end blocks D, (see Fi 2,) such rod being held from bend ing by resting against the bridge-piece E, which is glued to the face of the soundingboard F, as shown. These strings, which pass over the bridge-piece E and another bridge E at the outer end of the frame, have their ends wound about the usual tuning-pins G.

H indicates an upright, which is detachably secured to the base A of the frame A, a felt strip a being interposed between such upright and the base A to form an air-tight joint for a purpose hereinafter apparent. This upright ll is provided at its upper end with a mouth-piece G of a size similar to a harmonica, which has a number of key-openings or air-openings g, (ten being shown,) which openings extend down through the said upright (see dotted lines, Fig. 2) and communicate with air-chambers I I in the base A, which in turn communicate with a series of air-cylinders J, arranged one for each pair of operating keys or hammers hereinafter referred to. The arrangement of such keys is most clearly illustrated in Fig. lot the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that they consist of the levers K and L, arranged alternately, the upper set K being fulcrumed at 7; upon a rod 7;, which is secured in the end pieces D, as shown, such levers K being guided by operating in slots 75 in a transverse bar D, which connects the end pieces.

It will be observed that the levers K are fulcrumed at a point near the inner ends K thereof, and such ends have elongated slots k through which pass the operating-rods M, the lower ends of which are guided in a transverse strip N, while their upper ends are provided with pistons m, which operate in the cylinders J, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. Each of the rods M is provided with nuts or enlargements m arranged over the upper and under face of the elongated slots, which nuts m serve to operate to elevate or depress the said end of the levers K in a manner presently described.

The levers L, which are arranged parallel with and alternately to the levers K, are fulcrumed at their rear ends in a tranverse bar 0, such levers being connected by the Z- shaped wires P l, with the rear ends of the levers K.

The front ends of the levers K and L are tipped with felt, which ends are arranged to engage the plungers Q Q, loosely held for vertical movement in apertures r r in the plunger-block R, which block fits a cut-out portion A. in the soundingboard, so as not to impair the sound or vibration of such board, it being glued or otherwise fastened to extensions A of the base, as shown. The plungers Q and Q have their hammers-heads q q, normally about one-sixteenth of an inch below the strings, while their lower ends project down through said block R.

The manner in which myimproved instrument is operated is as follows: First, tune up the wires to the corresponding reeds in a harmonica. Then by blowing into the mouth-piece the pistons of the respective cylinders which communicate with the particular opening blown into will be forced down, thereby depressing the rear end of the particular key or keys K, and throwing their forward ends up against the plunger or plungers Q, which, through the impulse of such keys, are thrown up against the strings, the elasticity of such strings serving to throw the plungers quickly back to their normal position, thereby allowing the string or strings to vibrate after being struck. The player, by drawing in the breath and sucking up the air in the chambers I, will draw up the pistons, and in so doing raise the rear ends of the particular key or keys K, which in turn will, through the medium of the bent rods P, elerate the adjacent lever or levers L, which in turn will strike the plunger or plungers Q and move them in contact with the strings.

It will be noticed that by arranging the levers K and L as stated, when the rear ends of levers K are raised by suction the weight of their forward ends will assist in raising the levers L, thereby lessening the power required forsuch purpose.

My improved instrument is very simple, it can be made in a compact form, and can be manufactured at a moderate cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

]. Amusical instrument comprising a zither or harp like portion, hammers, air-tubes, pistons in said tubes, air-passages connected with the pistoirtubcs, said pistons and hammers arranged whereby the hammers are alternately operated by the inhalation or exhalation of air in the said passages, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the zither or harp like body and the pivoted hammers arranged to strike the zitherstrings, of air tubes or cylinders, pistons operating therein and connected with the hammers, and a mouth-piece having a series of air-passages connecting with the air-cylinders, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the body portion having the strings, the pivoted key-levers, air-cylinders, pistons operating in such cylinders, each connected with a pair of key-levers, and the air-supply chambers connected with the cylinders, each of said pistons and each pair of keys arranged relatively, whereby when the piston is drawn up it will operate one hammer to strike and when forced down operate the other hammer, as and for the purpose described.

lfThe combination of the body portion having the strings, the pivoted hammers, the pneumatically-operated pistons, each piston connected with a pair of hammers, such connection being at a point in advance of the pivot of one lever and to the rear of the pivotof the other lever, and the blow portion or mouth-piece having a series of air-passages communicating with the pistons, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

ED\VIN l. HICKS.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES J. \VATSON, ED. WATSON. 

